Austrian Border Control Under Discussion

Austrian People’s Party chairman, Reinhold Mitterlehner, sees the proposal by several governors to stem the current influx of refugees through the introduction of temporary border controls as a “cry for help”.

Photo: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH

Such a measure would “actually be very problematic,” Mitterlehner said at a news conference on Friday following a party meeting on the issue.

“It really is the last resort,” said the chairman during the discussion, adding that he hoped those governors considering such a proposal would also see this.

“Ultimately border controls would damage Austria’s international reputation,” he said, describing the statements as a “cry for help to draw attention to the need for a quota system.”

Austrian authorities have stopped 4,700 asylum seekers from entering Austria, most of whom had had their requests for asylum rejected in Italy.